United’s New Year starts at Huish Park tomorrow, as The Gulls take on a Yeovil side they beat at Plainmoor only last weekend.
With Gary Johnson’s side looking to get back to winning ways following their 2-1 defeat at Eastleigh on Tuesday, they will be coming up against a Glovers side that will be looking to avenge their 3-0 Boxing Day defeat on the English Riviera.
How Have They Been Doing?
Yeovil’s run of six wins and two draws in the past eight outings was ended here at Plainmoor last Sunday as Torquay running out 3-0 winners, with their run before that seeing them rise to 9th place in the standings – just four points off the play-offs, though they have since slipped to 11th after their game on Tuesday was postponed due to Covid in the Weymouth squad.
Who’s The Boss?
Darren Sarll was appointed Yeovil Town manager in June 2019 on three-year contract, having enjoyed an impressive non-league career as a footballer before cutting his teeth as a coach with Stevenage.
After being appointed as manager there in 2016, he was credited with developing the careers of Ben Wilmot and Ben Kennedy, before moving on to Vicarage Road two years later, when he was named as joint-head of Watford’s Academy.
An excellent first campaign in Somerset saw Town make it all the way to the Play-Offs before being eliminated by Barnet at the end of 2019/20, however the side struggled to reach those heights last time out, finishing in a disappointing 16th place.
Player to Watch
Having become Darren Sarll’s first summer signing ahead of 2020/21, Josh Staunton’s versatility has made him a vital member of the Yeovil squad, with the 26 year-old equally happy in defensive or midfield roles.
Starting out at Gillingham, a failure to break into the first-team saw Josh venture into non-League football St Albans, before subsequent spells at Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking and FC Halifax Town – where he was an ever-present in their 2019/20 play-off push – led to his move to Somerset.
Played for both
Reuben Reid is in his second spell at Huish Park having originally played for them between 2012-2014, however some United fans will also remember him for a short loan spell from neighbouring Plymouth Argyle towards the end of the difficult 2006/07 campaign, where his first Football League goals were unfortunately not enough to prolong The Gulls’s lengthy stay amongst the League’s 92 clubs.
Reuben also holds the distinction of being one of a select few players to have represented all three of Devon’s professional clubs at Football League level, as the Bristol-born forward continues to enjoy life in the West Country, in a career that has also included stays at Forest Green and Cheltenham, in addition to earlier spells at the more-northerly destinations of West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham.
Previous Encounter
Having only recently resuming competitive clashes after fifteen years apart, and with United’s last two trips to Huish Park ending in festive defeats, you have to go back to the early part of Leroy Rosenior’s 2003/04 campaign for The Gulls’ last league victory in that part of Somerset, as goals from David Graham and Jo Osei-Kuffour were enough to see them emerge victorious against a Town side in the midst of their own remarkable rise under United’s current boss.
United fans planning on making the trip Yeovil are reminded that tickets must be purchased in advance, with NO tickets available for purchase on the day of the game. Ticket prices and further details on how to obtain them are available here.